Corn-header



I w. P. HARMON.

CORN HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1919.

1 58,202, Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

INVENTOR.

willialnflfiarmon A TTORNEY nn rso STATESTPATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM P.1-IARMON, OF SPRING-VILLE, CALIFORNIA.

CORN-HEADER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM P. HARMoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springville, county of T ulare, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Headers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the characters of reference marked there on, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in corn headers, the principal object of the invention being to devise an article adapted to be secured to the hand of the user, and by means of which an ear of corn of any kind may be readily cut from the stalk, while allowing the full and free use of the hand to grasp the ear being out.

Another object is to construct the header in such a way as to remove all strain oil the hand and lingers, so that it may be used for indefinite periods at a stretch without unduly tiring the hand or cramping the fingers.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved corn header, showing the same, attached to a hand, the latter being in the act of grasping an ear of corn about to be cut or headed.

i3 is a side elevation of the header.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a wide band, preferably of leather, and having straps 2 extending from one end adapted to be fastened to buckle catches 3 secured in alinement with the straps on the outside and at the other end of the band.

This band is adapted to be fastened about the wrist of the user, the upper edge being curvedly cut away somewhat as at A, at a point adjacent the beginning of the straps, which point is under the bulge of the thumb a of the hand 5, which prevents chafing of the same.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed December 13, 1919. Serial No. 344,644;

Rigidly fastened to the band 1 outside the same and above the buckles 2 is the heading or cutting member 6.- The body 7 of the same,'whereit connects with the band is convexly curved somewhat, to conform more or less to the curvature of the hand adjacent the little finger 5 A suitable distance above the band. the cutting member bends downwardly as at 8, and forms an acute angled V with the body '7, as at 9, the sides of this angle being sharpsued to form cutting edges 10.

The bend of the cutting member is sub stantially in the same plane as the body thereof, and in the direction of the cut-away portion A of the band, when the same is laid out fiat, or when the bandis fastened around the wrist, in a plane substantially at right angles to the hand at the little finger end of the same.

A leather loop 11 is secured to the cutter 6 adjacent the top edge and on the inner surface thereof, being adapted to receive the little finger 5 therein, and so angled relative to the cutter that the finger will readily slip therein when the hand is in a semi closed or relaxed position as shown in Fig. 1, as would be the case when grasping an ear of corn therewith.

These headers will preferably be made and sold in pairs, one right and one left hand, so

that one may be used on either hand.

W ith my improved header therefore, the ear to be cut may be loosely grasped, while the cutter is given a quick downward motion, the sharp edged V portion engaging the stalk and severing the same at an angle- The fact that the same hand on. which the header is secured is free to grasp the corn prevents the latter from falling-to the ground, and also enables a cutter to be similarly strapped onto the other hand, thus doubling the amount of work one man may do, with little if any increase in actual physical work.

By reason of the fact that the cutter retaining band is secured to the wrist rather than the hand, all the strain of cutting is taken by the wrist and arm, thus permitting the hand to function normally without tiring or crampin the same.

I have found rom experience that the person wearing these cutters can cut from one to six heads or ears of corn at one time.

From the foregoin description it will be readily seen that have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the object of the invention as set forth herein. While this specification sets forth in file tail the present and preferred construction 7 of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail maybe resorted to as band adapted to be strapped around the wrist of the user, and a rigid cutting member secured to the band and projecting upwardly therefrom at right angles to the hand and positioned adj acent the little finger, and being removably secured thereto, whereby the cutting member is held rigidly by the hand'while the latter is unobstructed and free to grasp an ear of corn being cut. 1

2. A corn header comprising a flexible band adapted to be strapped around the wrist of the user, and a rigid cutting mem ber secured to'the band, and projecting upward therefrom and substantially at right angles thereto, but parallel to the hand, and provided withan inverted V-shaped cutting edge extending away from the plane of the hand, said cutting edge being below the fingers, whereby they are free to grasp an ear of corn above'the plane of the knife.

3. A corn header comprising a flexible band adapted to be strapped around the wrist of the user, a rigid cutting member projecting upward from the band and secured thereto and positioned substantially at right angles to the hand but parallel thereto adjacent the little finger thereof,

an inverted V-shaped cutting portion on said cutter at the top thereof and extendin-g away from the plane of the hand and a flexible loop secured to the upper and inner edge of the cutter and adapted to receive the little finger therein when the fin 'ers are in semi-closed posture.

ntestimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WlIJLIAM P. HARMON. WVitnesses:

MAX B. VJAMISON, L. PORTER. 

